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Cockroaches

The best defense against cockroaches is a clean kitchen and bathroom. If roaches are a problem in your home or apartment, vacuum well and wash the area with a strong soap. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed container.
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• It is a little known fact that roaches like high places. If you put boric acid on TOP of your kitchen cabinets (not inside), if space allows between ceiling and cabinets, the roaches will take the boric acid to their nests, killing all of them. Boric acid is toxic by mouth - keep away from children and pets.
   

• Catnip is a natural repellent to cockroaches. The active ingredient is nepetalactone, which is non-toxic to humans and pets. Small sachets of catnip can be left in areas of cockroach activity. Catnip can also be simmered in a small amount of water to make a "catnip tea" which can be used as a spray to apply around baseboards and behind counters. This natural repellent should only be used in homes without cats!
   

• Keep a spray bottle of soapy water on hand. Spraying roaches directly with soapy water will kill them.
   

• In an empty one pound coffee can, place 1 or 2 pieces of bread which have been oaked thoroughly with beer. Place in areas known to have roach infestations.
   

• Leave bay leaves, cucumber slices or garlic in the affected area as deterrents.
   

• The fruit of the Osage orange tree, the hedgeapple, is a natural roach repellent. Leave one hedgeapple per room for effective deterrence up to two months.
   

• Non-toxic roach traps are commercially available.